ALFREDO Morelos wheeling in adulation towards the collective arms of the travelling Rangers end seemed unfathomable 10 minutes before half-time in Paisley.

However, a Kemar Roofe penalty and James Tavernier cross later and the Colombian was engulfed by supporters and team-mates as he celebrated a century for his side. Frustration at a severely under-par opening was replaced with unconfined joy in the space of five minutes.

In a match where Rangers were utterly outplayed for the opening 20 minutes, some in-game tactical adaptations and big moments from big players recovered the situation. Morelos was predictably at the centre of it all.

The two performances leading to Paisley had mustered the most sustained encouragement of the season that consistency was on its way.

The Ibrox side created a combined xG of 6.44 in home games with Hearts and Brondby – as such, Steven Gerrard favoured consistency in his team selection.

Glen Kamara was reintroduced but only to the bench, Nathan Patterson wasn't rotated in and Morelos started despite previous poor form in front of goal.

That decision on the surface was wise – no team had given a 90-minute showing before Thursday, so why not stick with the team that did?

Gerrard’s pre-game rhetorical of “can we back Thursday up?” evidenced that consistency was at the forefront of his selection thinking. 

Trips to Paisley have often proved tricky. A tight pitch and a tactically-astute opposition manager has successfully negated Rangers' gameplans in the past. Add those factors to a noon kick-off and a quick start was needed – but not forthcoming.

Connor Ronan’s early strike was inarguable – it was the concession of the space he strode into and released from that was avoidable.

A failure to deal with a high ball led to possession turning over and subsequent pressure on the goalscorer was non-existent. 

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Up until midway through the half, St Mirren remained a level above the offerings of the visitors. They were quicker to second-balls, faster across the grass and superior in duels.

Pressing with a narrow front three, not dissimilar to the approach utilised by Hibs at Ibrox recently, they forced Rangers long in possession. The absence of pace in a frontline comprising of Ianis Hagi, Roofe and Morelos allowed Jim Goodwin’s side to squeeze the game.

Goodwin and Gerrard personified their team's contrasting styles. The former jumped at each turnover, nearly encroaching the pitch from his technical area. Gerrard stood unfazed, breaking from a statuary stance only to release the odd instruction or communicate frustration.

It was one of the messages that he and his staff barked out that would lead to their redemption. John Lundstram was told with no uncertainty to remain tight to Steven Davis and break from the three-man midfield structure.

This rendered St Mirren’s man-for-man press on the Northern Irishman and centre-back pairing press ineffective. There was now a viable line through the first stage of pressure in moving to a 4-2-2-2.

It was to be a member the cast a row up that took the initiative, and with it the stage, soon after.

In midweek it was Joe Aribo who led the team - on Sunday it was his hybrid partner Hagi.

The Romanian provided his side's only injection of speed during the turgid opening – fizzing passes through the home side instead of cushioning play around. While others struggled to adapt to the pace of the game, Hagi started to set it playing in between the lines.

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Six minutes before half-time he was brought down in the area – but it was his battling qualities that saw him win the ball deep in his own half moments before.

It was a scrappy ‘start and end’ type of involvement – but Hagi adapted in-game to give his side hope. His manager branded his output “outstanding.”

Roofe struck the penalty emphatically beyond Alnwick.

“A lot of them were talking too much when I was waiting – it was nice to score,” a smiling Roofe told RangersTV post-match.

A team can look so different with a dose of confidence and, having officially woken up post-penalty, Rangers' threats that had been so vacant earlier in the half became evident. The move to a double pivot in turn pushed back the host’s defence, giving greater room to play within.

Aribo’s deployment in the right half-space then dragged Scott Tanser inside and provided room for Tavernier to gallop around.

The following cross was misjudged at the front post and turned in by the Morelos. Vigorous celebration accompanied the achievement.

The Colombian has been through plenty with this club and fanbase. He's proved a leader throughout the entirety of Gerrard’s tenure.

His goal was celebrated as if it were a winner - it would turn out to be and it gave him the moment that reaching such a goal total deserved. 

He, like his team, haven't been relentless enough so far in this campaign. And yet they still remain top thanks to another win on the road.